Coin-controlled mechanism.



E'. MEYER. GOIN UONTROLLED MECHANISM. APPLICATION FILED Nov 1e, 190s.

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I'. MEYER. COIN CONTROLLED MEGHANISM. APPLICATION FILED Nov. 19, 190e.

Patented May 11, 1909.

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E MEYER G01N UONTROLLED MEGHANISM. APPLICATION FILED Nov.1r9, 1908.

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Patented May 11, 1909.

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FRED MEYER, OF BURLINGTON, IOWA, ASSIGNOR TO DODSON VENDING MACHINE COMPANY, OF DES MOINES, IOWA, A CORPORATION OF IOWA.

COIN-CONTROLLED M E CHANISIVI.

To all whom 'it may concern:

Beit known that I, FEED MEYER, a citizen ofthe United States of America, and resident of Burlington, Des Moines county, Iowa, have invented a new and useful Coin-Controlled Mechanism, of which the following is a specification.

'lhe object of this invention is to provide an improved construction for coin-connected, manually-operated mechanisms.

A further object of this invention is to provide improved means for withdrawing spurious coins by magnetic influence prior to the possible entrance of said coins to operative position in the machine.

A further object of this invention is to test the diameter of coins or checks employed to connect elements in the machine. i

A further object of this invention is to provide improved means for testing the thickness of coins or checks used in the machine.

A further object of this invention is to provide improved means for testing the resistance to flexure or bending strength of coins or checks in the machine.

A further object of this invention is to provide means for operating` jaw devices by a coin-connected, manually actuated mechanism.

A further object of this invention is to provide means for guiding a spurious coin to the exterior of the machine.

My invention consists in the construction, arrangement and combination of elements hereinafter set forth, pointed out in my claims and illustrated by the accompanying drawing, in which- Figure 1 is a plan of the complete mechanism attached to devices for receiving and severing cigar-cell series, the coin-slot devices being omitted. is a vertical sectionv ofthe coin-connected mechanism through the center of the coin passage therein, and including the coin-slot devices. Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the coin-connected, manually-actuated mechanism, the coin-slot devices, and connections with cigar-receiving an d severing` devices. nig. 4 is a vertical section or left-end view of the devices illustrated in Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a plan of the coinslot devices and chute leading therefrom to the exterior of the casing. Fig. 6 is a vertical section on the indicated line 6 6 of Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is a vertical section on the indi- Speccaton of Letters Patent.

Application filed November 19, 1908.

Patented May 1 1, 1909.

Serial No. 463,482.

I cated line 7-7 of Fig. 5. Fig. 8 is a vertical section on a somewhat enlarged scale on the indicated line 8-8 of Fig. 3. Fig. 9 is a top view of the plate 34 and the holding jaws 25 and 26.

This invention relates to coin-connected, manually actuated mechanisms and involves the connection of such mechanisms with cigar-receiving and coin-slot devices. Those parts specifically related to receiving and severing cigar-cell series, and those parts relating to control of the coin slot when the cigar holder is empty, are specifically illustrated and described in my companion applications filed November 19, 1908 and numbered 463,481 and 463,483 and pending concurrently herewith, and to such applications reference is made for any construction relating thereto not fully set forth in the following description.

In the construction ofthe device as shown, the numeral 10 designates a supporting frame composed of a plurality of posts, bars, and cross-rods suitably connected and provided with bearings wherever desired. The entire frame 10 may be inclosed in a suitable casing such as is described and illustrated in my companion application relating to cigarvending devices. A shaft 11 is mounted for rotary oscillation in a horizontal plane in the frame 10. A block 12 is mounted rigidly on the shaft 11 near one end thereof. A shaft 13 is j ournaled for rotation in the frame 10 at right angles to the shaft 1l and in alinement with the central portion of theV block 12. A crank-arm 14 is fixed to one end portion of the shaft 13 an d a pin 15 is pivoted at one end in a slot (dotted lines, Fig. l) in the block 12 and extends through the outer end portion of the crank-arm 14. The pin 15 is adapted to move to and fro in the slot in the block 12,

pin which passes through the crank-arm 14 is adapted to be moved by said crank-arm in a circle. The result of such movement is an up-and-down oscillation of the eXtreme end of the block 12, thus effecting the oscillation of the shaft 11 through an arc approximating to one-quarter a revolution. A sleeve 16 is mounted for rotation in the frame 10 and is adapted to receive the outer end portion of the shaft 13. A crank-arm 17 is iiXed to the Y outer end portion of the sleeve I6, and said l crank-arm is designed to be located outside and at the same time that end portion of the of any-casing employed to inclose the remaining mechanism and devices. A pin 13 is fixed 'to and projects radially from the shaft 13 and is adapted to be engaged by a pawl 19 pivoted on the inner end portion of the sleeve 16. A stop 20 in the sleeve limits movement of the pawl 19 in one direction, so as to present Vsaid pawl for operative contact with the pin 13 whenever the sleeve 1.6 is rotated in the desired direction by the crank 17 asindicated by the arrow a in Fig. 1. A jawframe, 21 is pivoted on the frame 10 and the axis of articulation of the jaw-frame is parallel with the axis of the shaft 13 and at right angles to the axis of the shaft 11. A crossbar 22 is fixed to and extends transversely of the 'up er end portion of the j aw-frame 21 and aso projects rearwardly therefrom.

Loo s or hinge-members 23, 24 are mounted int e cross-bar 22 and are formed with eyes above and below said cross-bars. Jaws 25, 2'6 are pivoted on the loops or hinge-members 23, 24 below and above the cross-bar 22 by means of rods 27, 23. The jaws 25, 26 extend rearward from the rods 27, 23 and have 'teeth on their inner ends extending upwardly and downwardly respectively. The jaw-frame is adapted to be .moved rearward and cause the teeth of the jaws 25, 26 to pass between cutting devices and engage cigarcells 29 in a holder 30 beneath a holder-frame 31. The holder 30 is formed on the frame 10 and 'the holder-frame 31 is pivoted on the frame 10, and they are adapted conjunctively for temporary holding of cigar-cell series preliminary to the engagement therewith ofthe jaws. Each cell is supposed to contain a Vcigar 32, and a series of the cells is contained in a box 33 suitably mounted within 'the frame 10 at the rear of the jaw-frame. A plate 34 is pivoted on a screw 35 mounted in and projecting outward from the cross-bar 22. The 'plate 34 extends above and below the screw 35, but its projection downward is greater than the projection upward, and it is attached to said screw iiexibly by a coilspring 35a. The coil-spring 35u tends to move the plate inthe direction of the arrow a in Fig. 3. The plate 34 is provided with an inclined forward margin 36. The plate 34 is provided with 'horizontal slots 37, 33 below and above and extending 'forward and rearward relative Ato the axis of the screw 35. Studs 39, 40 are mounted on and project outwardly from the jaws 25, 26 respectively and extend throughthe slots 37, 33 respectively. A pin 41 is mounted horizontally in slide bearings in the frame 10 parallel with and materially in front of the shaft 13, and said pin crosses the plane ofthe shaft 11. An antifriction roller 42 is mounted on the inner end portion of the pin 41 and is adapted .to engage with the inclined margin 36 of the plate 34. An expansive coil-spring 43 is mounted on the pin v41 between the roller 42 and adjacent bearing and tends to move said pin inward so that the roller 42 is in the path of travel of the plate 34.

An arm 44 is rigidly mounted on and projects inward and upward from the shaft 11, and a curved plate 45 is fixed to the outer end portion of said arm. A spiral slot 46 is formed in the curved plate 45 and a stud 47 is fixed to and projects from one end portion of the cross-bar 22 and enters said spiral slot. An anvil 43 is mount-ed loosely on the shaft 11 adjacent to the arm 44. An Aarm 49 extends outward from the anvil at right angles to the shaft 11 and is connected by a retractile coil spring 5()l to a portion of the frame 10. The upperportion of the anvil 43 extends above the shaft 11 andserves as a portion of the outer wall of a coin passage. Flanges 51, 52 are pivoted on the shaft 11 and project inward from the anvil 43, and the inner portions of said flanges are bent inward toward each other, yet spaced apart, and form the front and side walls of a coin passage in front of the anvil. The lower end portions of the flanges 51, 52 project below vthe anvil 43, and a tongue 53 is struck inward from the front wall thereof and inclined downwardly (Fig. 2) into contact with the face ofthe anvil near the lower end thereof. A recess 54 is formed in the face of the anvil 43 below the shaft 11, and the rear wall of said recess is deeply inclined from the center to the top and bottom thereof. Even the central portion `of the recess 54 hasy some depth, and the upper and lower portions of said recess are materially deeper than the central portion. A retractile coil-spring 55 connects the lower end poi'- tions of the flanges 51, 52 to a portion of the bearing 10 and tends to rhold said flanges in parallel relation to the face of the anvil 43. Balancing plates 56, 57 are fulcrurned on the shaft 11 on either side of the anvil 43 and are held outward flush with t-he face of said anvil by an expansive spring 53 supported in contact therewith by a yoke 59 carried by Vand at the rear of the lower portion of the anvil. A rod 6() is pivoted at one end to a portion of the frame 1() (Fig. 1) and extends to pivotal arrangement with the pin 41. The rod 6() crosses at the rear of the yoke 59in'thepath of .travel of said yoke vwhen it is moved as hereinafter provided. A punch 61 is fixed to the arm 44 and is adapted to be moved vby said arm through arc (dotted lines, Fig. 2) through the space between the flanges 51, 52 and into contact with the apex of the rear wall of the depression or recess 54, or in contact with any objectcarried by the tongue 53 in front of said recess. A plate 62 is adapted to be mounted on the top of the casing employed to contain the mechanisms, and said plate is formed with a coin-slot 63. A bell-- crank latch 64 is pivoted on the plate 62 and one arm thereof normally covers the coinslot 63 (dotted lines, Fig. 5). A knob 65 is vformed on one arm of the bell-crank latch 64, by means of which said latch can be manipulated. The latch 64 is held in closed position over the slot 63 by a spring 66, and a stop 67 projecting upward from the plate 62 limits movement of said latch under the in- Huence of the spring. A stop 68 projecting upward from the plate 62 limits movement of' the latch 64 in opposition to the spring under manual actuation.

A coin passage 69 extends downward from the slot 63 and is open at top and bottom. One side of the coin passage 69 is formed by a plate 70 rigidly fixed to the plate 62, and the opposite side of said coin passage is formed by a plate 71 pivoted at its rear end on a pin 72 which serves as a pivot for the bell-crank latch 64. The latch is secured to thefupper end of the pin 72 by a transverse pin 73 and the plate 71 is connected to said pin 72 by a coil spring 74 at one end, whereby the pivotal movement of the plate on the pin is cushioned. The tendency of the spring 74 is to move the plate 71 away from the plate 70, and such tendency is limited and overcome by a hook 75 on the plate 70. The outer end portion of' the plate 70 is turned in ward to form a flange 76 adapted for engagement with the plate 71 at times. The length of the flange 76 is less than the thickness of a proper coin or nickel five-cent-piece. A gate 77 is mounted rigidly on the pin 72 and is adapted to be moved by said pin to and fro through an arc beneath the plates 70, 71 and intersect the coin passage 69. A stud 78 is fixed to and extends upward from the cen tral portion of the gate 77 and is adapted to engage the plate 71 at times and move said plate toward the plate 70 against the resilience of the spring 7 4.. Ears 79 l(one o'll which is shown in llig. 8) are formed on and extend laterally from the rear end portion of the plate 70, and a latch 80 is pivoted at its rear end on a pin 81 vertically mounted in said ears. The latch 80 is formed with a flange or lip 82 adapted to extend across the upper face of the plate 70 and intersect the coin passage 69 at its initial end adjacent the coin slot 63. The coil spring 83 is mounted on the pin 81 and tends to move the latch 80 away from the plate 70 and hold the flange or lip 82 out of' the coin passage. An arm 84 is formed on and extends at right angles to the latch 80, and is pivoted to the forward end of a lever 85. The lever 85 is formed with a slot 86 in its rear end adapted to receive a pin 87 on a crank-arm 88. The crankarm 88 is fixed to and rises from a horizontal rod 39 arranged for oscillation on the frame 10 of the machine. The rod 89 is oscillated and held normally in one direction by a spring 90 connecting the arm 88 to a stationary portion of the frame 10 and may be moved in the opposite direction by elevation of a holder-frame 91 fixed thereto and extending forward in such position as to be engaged and raised by a cigar 92 in a holder 93; or the rod 89 may be moved against the resilience of' the spring 90 by a lever 94 attached to one end thereof and extending downwardly and forwardly across the jaw-frame 21 of the machine. Thus, when the cigareholder 93 is empty, the holderframe 91 will fall toward said holder, and in so doing will move the rod 89, arm S8 and lever 94 into the positions shown by dot ted lines. ln such position the arm 88 carries the pin 87 forward and causes said pin to move the rod 85 forward and swing the latch 80 in such manner that the lip S2 will intersect the coin passage 69 and prevent the insertion of a coin to the machine through the slot 63. But when the holder-frame 91 is upheld either manually through the lever 94 or by a cigar in the holder 93, the latch 80 is held away from the plate 70 and the lip 82 is held out of the coin passage 69. A coinchute 95 leads from the coin passage 69 to the entrance between the flanges 51, 52. An opening is formed in the upper end portion of the coin-chute 95 communicating yvith a dis charge chute 96, which discharge chute extends forward and downward on helical lines to a discharge spout or cup 97 on the exterior of the casing of' the machine. A magnet 9S is mounted at the upper end of the coin chute 95 and one arm of' said magnet is longer than the other and extends across the upper end of the opening in the front of said chute and is beveled and curved rearwardly on its lower face. A gate 99 is pivoted on a screw 100 on the coin chute 95, and an arm 101 is formed on and beveled downwardly and forwardly from the upper end of said gate and extends across said coin-chute 95. A spring 102 mounted on the screw 100 tends to hold the gate 99 inward in such position that the arm 101 thereof will extend in inclined position across said coin chute and guide an object thereon in rolling motion to the discharge chute 96. The lower end portion of the gate 99 extends within the orbit of travel of the plate 45 and is adapted to be engaged by a shoulder 103 on said plate and moved into the position shown in Fig. 2 when the handle 17 is in proper position (directed upwardly) for the insertion of' a coin to the machine.

lt has been explained that when the cigarholder is empty, the latch 80 closes the coin slot and prevents the insertion of a coin oftener than the bell-crank latch 64 is o ened by manual actuation. When the han( le 17 is not directed upwardly and the cigar-holder contains a cigar, a coin can be introduced through the slot 63 to the passage 69 and will be grip ed in such passage by compression ofthe p ate 71 toward the plate 70 under the influence of the lug 78 on the arm 77 actuated by the pin 72. lf, however, the coin or check employed is too thin, it will not be gripped by the plates 70 71 and will fall out of the passage 7 3 into the chute 95, lf the coi-n or check is spurious and subject to magnetism, it Will be engaged by the rojecting end portion of the magnet 98 anfl Will roll beneath the rounded or beveled portion thereof into the discharge chute 96. lf the coin is of proper thickness, but the handle is not in proper position, it Will be retained until the bell-crank latch 64 is released and the .compression of the plates 70, 71 relaxed, and thenit will fall upon the arm 101 and be directed by said .arm to the discharge chute 96, and thence to the cup 97 outside the machine, Where it can be repossessed by the operator. 1f the handle is in proper position andthe coin or check -is not subject to magnetism, and said coin or check is of such thickness as to be caught and compressed by the plates 70, 71, then upon the relaxing of the plates said coin Will fall through the chute 95, the gate 99 being oscillated to move the arm 101 out of the Way because of the proper positioning of the plate 45 and shoulder 103. The coin will continue through the chute 95 and flanges 51 and into aposition of rest on the lip 53 in front of the depression 54.

How the coin is acted upon and tested as to its stiffness, thickness and similar qualities has been described, and how said coin or check acts to operate the anvil and set in motion other mechanisms has been described. All of the 4coin-slot-closing, coin-gripping, coin-checking, coin-guiding and coin-testing devices above the flanges 51 are claimed in my companion application pending concurrently herewith, to which reference is hereby made. rlhe companion application just referred to also4 contains claims for the means of operating all of the devices above the lower end of the coin chute 95. The claims of Athis 'c pplication are applied to all of those devices eneath the coin chute 95 except in so far as the plate 45 or an equivalent element maybe employed to operate the gate 99.

l claim as my invention- 1. A coin coutroller,.comprising an anvil mounted for oscillation, a spring adapted to move said anvil in one direction, said anvil formed -With a doubly inclined depression in its lface below its axis of oscillation, a coin chute communicating with said anvil, a coin rest at .the lextremity yof said coin chute in front of Vsaid anvil, and a punch mounted rfor travel through an arc and adapted to engage acoi-n in said chute and press the same tow ard said anvil.

adapted to engage a coin on said rest and press it toward said anvil.

3. A coin controller, comprising a chute mounted for manual oscillation, an Vanvil loosely mounted on said shaft and sK ringheld in one direction, said anvil former with a depression in one face at one side of its axis of oscillation, a coin chute loosely mounted on the shaft and extending across the face of said anvil, an arm fixed to said shaft, and a punch on said arm adapted to travel through an arc and extend through said chute and engage a coin extending across said depression in the face of the anvil.

4. A coin controller, comprising a chute mounted for oscillation, an operating arm on said chute adapted to engage and operate feeding devices, an anvil on said shaft springheld in one direction, a coin chute leading across the face of said anvil, a punch on said arm adapted to extend through said coi-n chute and engage a coin on the face of said anvil, a block on said chute, and manually operated crank mechanism adapted to engage and oscillate said block.

5. 1n a coin controller, an operating shaft mounted for oscillation, a block on and extending laterally from said shaft, said block being bifurcated horizontally, a shaft mounted at right angles to the first shaft and provided With a crank-arm engaging said block, a sleeve mounted loosely on the latter shaft, a pawl connecting said sleeve to the latter shaft, and a crank on said sleeve adapted for manual actuation.

6. A coin controller, comprising an operating shaft mounted for oscillation, means carried by said shaft for actuating feeding devices, an anvil loosely mounted on said shaft and s ringheld in one direction, a punch carrier by said shaft and adapted to engage a coin on said anvil, a stop arranged transversely of the shaft, means 'carried -by the anvil for moving said stop longitudinally, said stop springheld against movement by vthe anvil, and manually operated crank ymechanism for oscillating said shaft.

7. A coin controller, comprising a shaft, an arm thereon, said arm formed With a helical slot adapted to engage and operate feeding devices, an anvil loosely mounted on said shaft, a stop mounted for reciprocation and springheld in one direction, said stop normally adapted to engage :the feeding devices, means on the anvil for moving said stop against the resilience of its spring, a coin chute leading to said anvil, a coin rest in said chute adjacent said anvil, and a punch carried by said shaft and adapted to be moved through an arc and engage a coin on said rest.

8. A coin controller, comprising an operating shaft mounted for oscillation, means carried by said shaft for operating feeding devices, means carried bysaid shaft for testing the thickness, diameter and stiffness of a coin, a stop adjacent said shaft, means carried by said shaft adapted to move said stop out of operative osition, and means for oscillating said sha `t.

9. A coin controller, comprising a shaft mounted for oscillation, devices carried by said shaft for operating feeding devices, a sto adjacent said shaft adapted to engage saic feeding devices, means carried by the shaft for moving said stop out of operative position, means carried by said shaft for testing the thickness, diameter and stiffness of a coin, and means for oscillating said shaft manually;

10. A coin controller, comprising a shaft mounted foroscillation, means carried by said shaft for operating feeding devices, coin-testing means carried by said shaft, a crank-shaft at right angles to the first shaft and communicating therewith, a sleeve on said crank-shaft, a crank on said sleeve adapted for manual actuation, and means for to one direction.

11. A coin controller, comprising a shaft mounted for oscillation, means carried by said shaft for operating feeding devices, coin-testing mechanism carried by said shaft, a crank-shaft at right angles to the Erst shaft and operatively connected therewith, a sleeve on the crank-shaft, a paWl connecting said sleeve to the crank-shaft and limiting operation of the crank-shaft by movement of the sleeve in one direction, and a manually operated crank on said sleeve limited to complete revolution in one direction.

Signed by me at Burlington, Iowa, this 16 day of November, 1908.

FRED MEYER.

Witnesses:

T. G. HARPER, S. C. SWEET. 

